Non-bulging garter fastener



April 14, 1964 P. WINCHELL $912,477

NON-BULGING GARTER FASTENER Filed Feb. 3, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 44- l l 4.] 15 D53 1- a2 Em 40 5 48 M INVENTOR. PAUL WINCHELL BY 34 4770mm A ril 14, 1964 WINCHELL 3,128,417

I uomsumms GARTER FASTENER I Filed Feb. 3, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 'INVENTOR. PAUL WINCHELL United States Patent New York Filed Feb. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 86,918 1 Claim. (Cl. 2-335) This invention relates to the art of womens undergarments and particularly concerns an improved garter for use with a girdle.

According to the invention there is provided a girdle assembly which is quickly attachable to and detachable from a lower edge of a girdle and the upper edge of a stocking. The garter assembly includes an adjustable body with a buckle having a pivoted jaw adapted to en'- gage an edge portion of a stocking with means for clamping the jaw on the body of the buckle. The garter assembly is arranged so that it is substantially fiat and coplanar with the lower edge of the girdle to present a smooth non-bulging foundation for the outer garments. At the stocking the buckle lies fiat and conforms to the curvature of the wearers leg to provide a non-bulging support for the stocking.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a garter which is quickly and easily attached to and detached from the girdle and stocking.

A further object is to provide a garter with a substantially flat quick attachment means at opposite ends for supporting a stocking on a girdle.

Another object is to provide a garter having a novel clasp and buckle.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descniption and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a garter embodying one form of the invention, shown attached to a girdle, parts being broken away.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary disassembled perspective view showing the clasp in closed position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of an attaching pintle.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. '6 is a perspective view of a modified form of attaching pintle shown applied to the top of the body of s the garter.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another modified [form of attaching piutle.

FIG. 8 is a disassembled perspective view of a modified form of buckle and pintle assembly, with the garter attached.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of another modified form of buckle and piutle assembly, parts being broken away.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a garter embodying a still further modified form of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the plane of the line 1111 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the garter of FIG. 10 shown in operative position on a girdle and stocking.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of FIG. 1'2.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of a modified form of buckle and clasp assembly shown in closed position.

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of a modified form of buckle and clasp assembly, pants being broken away.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a modified connection between a buckle and clasp.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in FIG. 1 a garter embodying one form of my invention is illustrated and designated generally by the reference numeral .10. The garter 10 is shown applied to a girdle G.

The garter 10 comprises an elongated rectangular body or strap 12 formed of a length of elastic cloth material turned upon itself forming two plies of material, which plies are stitched across at spaced intervals as indicated at 13, at one end, the bottom end as viewed in FIG. 1, forming tubular pockets 14, open at both ends. At its top, the body is formed with another pocket or loop 15 (formed by a row of stitching 16. The body 12 of the garter may be formed of any other suitable material.

A metal buckle 18 is pivotally connected to the bottom end of the body 12 and hangs loosely downwardly therefrom. The buckle comprises a horseshoe-shaped body 19 with a bight portion 20 and downwardly extending curved arms 21, 23. An integral generally U-shaped yoke portion '25 extends upwardly from the bight portion 20 of the body. A pintle member 26 extends across the space between the curved arms 28 and 29 of the yoke 25 and through the lowermost tubular pocket 14 of the body 12.

Pins 26 and 27 extend from the ends of the body of the pintle, the pin 26' being slidably mounted and urged outwardly by a coil spring 29' inside the body. The pins are journaled in socket openings 31, 3 1 formed in the inner side of the curved arms 28 and 29 of the yoke, the slidable pin 26" and an entrance slot 33' leading to the opening in arm 29 permitting such mounting. A curved extension 33 is formed on one side of the bight portion 26 of the body of the buckle, the rear side as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3, and extends downwardly of the center of the bight portion to form an abutment. A countersunk recess 20' is formed in the front side of the bight portion and this recess is adapted to be covered by a pivoted catch member 32 pivoted on a pivot pin 34 extending outwardly of the recess 20'.

A clasp member 30 having a flat platelike body 32' shaped to conform to the shape of the space between the arms 21 and 23 of the buckle 18 is pivotally connected to the bottom free ends of the curved arms 21, 23 of the buckle by means of pivot pins 31' extending through the ends of the arms and extensions 35, 35 protruding from the straight end 36 of the clasp member. The surfaces on both sides of the bight portion 37 of the clasp body is shown as being roughened as indicated at 24 but may be formed with gripping surtaces by means of layers or inlays of gripping material such as vinyl or the like.

A buckle 40 is also detachably connected to the other or top end of the garter body 12. This buckle comprises a rectangular-shaped platelike body 42 with a cutout portion 41 along one long edge thereof forming end legs 46, 46. A series of spaced holes 43 is formed along the other long edge of the body. The inner long edges of the legs 46, 46 are formed with socket openings 48. A recess 45 is formed along said other long edge at the rear side of the body.

The connection between the buckle 4t) and the body 12 of the garter includes an elongated pintle member 52 having a solid cylindrical body 54. The body is formed with an axial bore 54' intersecting one end thereof. A pin 5% is fixed in and protrudes from one end of the body. A pin 50 is slidably mounted in the bore with ,3 one end thereof protruding outwardly of the other end of the body. A coil spring 55 is mounted in the bore with one end seated against the base of the bore and the other end impinging against the inner end of the pin 50' for urging said pin outwardly of the body. A headed pin 58 extending radially from the pin and outwardly through a slot 57 in the body 54 is adapted to slide the pin inwardly against the action of the spring. The pintle member 52 is inserted through the topmost loop 15 in the body 112 of the garter with the pins 5 3" and 59 disposed in the socket openings 48, 48 of arms 28 and 29 and with the operating pin 58 extending through a closed slot 59 formed in the topmost loop 15, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

While I have shown a buckle 4%), any suitable means may be used for securing the garter body 12 and the girdle G. In use, the garter is fastened to the girdle G by placing the lower edge E thereof in the recess 4-5 of the buckle id and stitching the buckle to the girdle by means of stitches 44 passing through the holes 43% in the buckle and through the material of the girdle. When the buckle is so fastened the body 12 of the garter hangs downwardly and the buckle 18 may readily be fastened to the top of a stocking by placing the top edge of the stocking over the clasp member 3t) and swinging the clasp member with stocking edge thereon into the space between the buckle arms 21 and 23 against the abutment 33 and then swinging the catch member 32 over the edge of the stocking to clamp the stocking and the clasp member 3d against the buckle l8 and hold the stocking in supported condition.

Catch member 32; holds the clasp member 349 closed and coplanar with the buckle body 19.

The construction and arrangement of the pintle 52 are such that the pin 53 can be engaged by a fingernail and pin Ell retracted so as to disengage the upper end of the garter body from the buckle member 40 in a quick manner. The pintle 52 may be inserted in any of the pockets 14 in order to adjust the ettective length of the body 12 of the garter.

The garter 19 is thus provided with a substantially fiat, non-bulging quick detachable connection to the girdle G and the upper end of the garter and to the stocking at the lower end of the garter.

In FIG. 7 a modified form of pintle '52 is shown that is adapted to be used with the buckle ll} in place of pintle member 52. Pintle 52. has an elongated cylindrical body 54 with an integral pin 59 extending from one end thereof. The body is formed with an axial bore intersecting the other end of the body and slidably mounted in said bore and extending outwardly thereof is another pin SW. A coil spring 29 in the bore urges the pin 50 outwardly. At each end of the body 54 an arm 60 extends radially thereof and at the outer free ends of the arms laterally extending socketed bearing members 62 are formed, the socket openings facing each other. A round bar 64 extends across the space between the bearing members and is supported thereby. In using this form of pintle 52*, the topmost loop 15 of the body 12 of the garter is sleeved over the round bar 64.

In FIG. 8, another modified form of buckle and pintle assembly is illustrated. In this form, the buckle 40 is adapted to be removably fastened to the top of the garter body 12* and to be fastened to the girdle E. Buckle 46 has a solid body 42 substantially rectangular in plan and tapering from top end to bottom end. The wider bottom end is formed with a cut-out portion 41* forming end legs 46 46 Two rows of holes 43* are formed in the body and countersunk recesses 4?? are formed on the inner surfaces of the legs 46 46*.

A pintle member 52* having a solid rectangular-shaped body 54* has an integral pin 50* similar to pin 59 of FIG. 7 and a spring-pressed slidable pin 50" similar to pin 56 of FIG. 7. The body 54X is slotted centrally as indicated at 53 to receive the top end of the garter 12 which is secured in place by instruck prongs 55 on the body 54 The pintle member 52 is suspended from the legs 46 46 by the pins 50 and 5%.

In the modification shown in FIG. 9, the buckle 42* is similar to the buckle 42 of FIG. 8. In this form, however, the pintle member 52 is similar to the pintle member 52 of FIG. 7 with the exception that the cross rod 64* is formed integrally with the legs all".

In FIGS. l0l3 there is shown another modified garter ltl Strap l2 is an elastic member of cloth or plastic material. At its lower end, the strap is formed with a loop 62 which may have a resilient rubber core 64 The strap passes through a slot 6'6 in the bight 68 of an inverted U-shaped buckle 76 and the enlarged loop 62 engages under the bight as best shown in FIG. 13. The buckle has diverging egs 72, 74 formed with grooves '76 on their inner edges. A U-shaped springy clasp member 75 has the ends of its legs 78 rotatably secured by pins 77 to the ends of legs 72, 74 of the buckle. The bight 79 of the clasp member engages under the resilient loop 62 when the clasp member is closed as shown in FIG. 13 and in the form of FIG. 14. In this closed position, the legs 78 of the clasp member engage in the grooves '76 of legs 72, 74 due to the resiliency of the springy clasp member. The edge E of the stocking S is held between the compressed resilient loop 62 and the upper edge of bight 79 as shown in FIG. 13. The stocking is disengaged from the buckle '76 by snapping the clasp member out of the grooves in the legs 72, 74. The bight 7) is knurled at its opposite sides as indicated at 89 to increase the frictional grip on the stocking. The bight 63 of buckle 7% is formed with a countersunk recess 6% on one side to house a pivoted catch member 32 adapted to frictionally hold the clasp member 75 in closed position.

Garter lit has a buckle til at its upper end formed as a metal strip bent double on itself and provided with a recess 82 at its free end. In this recess fits the free lower edge E" of girdle G. Indentations 84 in the end of the hue le secures the buckle to the girdle edge E". A transverse slot 85 is formed in the flat doubled body of the buckle and removably receives a flexible hook 36 formed at the upper end of a clasp 88. The clasp has a pair of opposed bent tabs secured by indentations 92 to the upper end of the strap 12 The tips of the legs 72 and '74 of the buckle 7% may be coated with vinyl or the like as indicated at '72 and 7d in FIG. 14 to frictionally hold the stocking in clamped position.

It will be noted that the garter 10 is joined both to the girdle G and to the stocking S as shown in FIG. 12, in a substantially flush or fiat quick detachable connection to the respective garments. It is desirable that the stocking buckle 18 of garter it) of FIG. 1 and stocking buckle 7d of garter 10 of FIG. 10 both be formed with curved bodies, the axes of curvature being the axes of symmetry of the buckles. This formation will insure a more snug fit of the buckle and garter against the curved leg L of the wearer. The several buckles and clasps described may be made of metal or plastic material.

The modified form of buckle and clasp assembly shown in FIG. 14 is similar to the form shown in FIGS. 10-13 except that the arms 72 and 74' of the buckle 70' curve inwardly instead of diverging outwardly. The legs 78' of the clasp 75 also curve inwardly to correspond. Otherwise the buckle and clasp are similar and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts.

The modified form of buckle and clasp assembly shown in FIG. 15 difiers from the form of FIG. 14 merely in that instead of pins such as the pins 77, threaded trunnions 77 and 77 are carried at the ends of the clasp 75' received in threaded socket openings 94 and 95 in the legs 72 and 74 of the buckle 70 The threads on trunnion 5'7 are left handed and the threads on trunnion 77 are right handed so that as the clasp 75 is rotated on the trunnions in one direction, with the end of the stocking on the bight portion 79, the ends of the legs 78 of the clasp will tend to move away from each other toward the legs of the buckle as shown by the arrows. A complete turn of the clasp 360 will cause the ends of the legs 78* to clamp tightly against the legs 72 and 74 of the buckle.

In FIG. 16 the connection between the leg 78 of the clasp and the leg 72 of the buckle is slightly modified from that shown in FIG. 16, in that the socket 94 in the leg 72 is closed and does not extend through so that when the leg 78 is turned 360 degrees, the end of the trunnion 77 clamps against the base of the socket 94 instead of having the ends of the legs contacting each other.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A substantially fiat garter, comprising an elastic strap, a buckle secured at one end of the strap, said buckle having a horseshoe-shaped body, with depending arms, a U-shaped clasp member pivotally attached at ends of its legs to ends of the arms of the body, and means for securing the clasp member between the arms of the body comprising a catch member rotatably mounted on the bight of the body for engaging the bight of the clasp member, the bight of the body having a recessed portion for receiving the bight of the clasp member with an edge of a stocking engaged on and over the bight of the clasp member and under the catch member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 19,930 Tompkins Apr. 14, 1936 1,194,484 Depollier et a1. Aug. 15, 1916 1,509,576 Anderson Sept. 23, 1924 2,733,448 Stogoski Feb. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 645,338 Germany May 26, 1937 674,527 Germany Apr. 15, 1939 

